While the rain is certainly welcome, dousing this dusty old town (6th largest in Australia!) we are hopeful it doesn't dampen the parade too much and skies clear up in time for the greatest show on earth – SCIBS, of course!

The TetraMedia crew will be out and about during the four days, including veteran of every single show, Bob Wonders, publisher Rob Kothe and me (thankfully not burdened with baby belly this year!) Grab us if you see us and feel free to bend our ears with business and your observations of this year's event.

This week, we feature news and previews ahead of SCIBS in just two days time, including a new release from beleaguered builder, Riviera – the revolutionary 5800 Sport Yacht – and from North South Yachting, the debut of the Bavaria 43 Cruiser.

We also bring you the first images of the world's biggest ever cruise ship underway in Finland, the MS Oasis of the Seas, which will accommodate 10,000 passengers, measure 360m and weigh in at 220,000 tonnes. While it won't be seen in Australian waters, good news is that it will be ready in time for Christmas and taking to the seas around the Caribbean and Mediterranean for a very reasonable $900-ish for five nights.

We have been flat out this week covering every corner of the world (thanks for the tips!) including plans and multi-million Euro investment in a hybrid boat, US boating industry concerns about the move to 15% Ethanol, the latest on Korea International Boat Show and conference, Brunswick's CEO's predictions of a shrinking global industry and, closer to home, Boab Boat Hire's formula for success.

In other good news to dispel any recession-depression, Performance Sailcraft Australasia, Downunder Laser manufacturer, reports why the company is ahead of budget and the forecast is fine!

See you at SCIBS and if not, hear from you soon!

Jeni Bone, Editor

Laser Dinghies - Recession Busting Brendan Maxwell, Laser Performance Sailcraft the ‘down under' Laser sailboat builder on the NSW Central Coast at Fountaindale is proving right now that the right product and the right marketing will deliver, even in the toughest recession.... [more]Onsend this story

Sanctuary Cove, 2009 – and the rain is coming! Bob Wonders, Weather forecast not in boat show's favour, but exhibitors will grin and bear it. The forecast for Thursday reads, ‘rain, heavy at times, with an afternoon thunderstorm and strong winds from the south-east.'... [more]Onsend this story

North South Yachting brings Bavaria to SCIBS North South Yachting, North South Yachting, national importer of Bavaria Yachts and X-Yachts will be at Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, 21-24 May 2009, showing the Bavaria 34 Cruiser and the new Bavaria 43 Cruiser in her boat show debut.... [more]Onsend this story

Riviera's revolutionary 5800 Sport Yacht Riviera Boats, Despite receivers and in the face of the impact of the global recession, Australia's largest luxury boat builder, Riviera has launched its revolutionary new 5800 Sport Yacht in preparation for her official unveiling at the 2009 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show on Thursday morning.... [more]Onsend this story

Hiring a boon for Boab Jeni Bone, On the eve of Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, where the company is exhibiting as part of the Honda stand, Boab Boat Hire is celebrating great figures, unprecedented interest in franchises and a new partnership with the engine manufacturer.... [more]Onsend this story

Bellingham sold off to Bellwether Media Services, Ambassadors Marine Group (AMG), which consists of Bellingham Marine (BMI) and BellPort Group (BPG) has announced that they have been sold to Bellwether Financial Group, Inc.... [more]Onsend this story

€2m funding for electric hybrid development Media Services, Thanks to the rise in hybrid road vehicles, International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) is dedicating resources to adapting the same technologies to boating applications.... [more]Onsend this story

CT Sailbatten Race Winners in 2008 - 09: Part 2 Lara Cooper and Sail-World, C-Tech is extremely proud to have supplied CT Sailbattens to many recent race winners taking part in top class yachting events. As this, the second in the series of achievements show, CT Sailbattens are being used by yachts at the top of their game, yachts that face the toughest challenges in the sport of sailing often in the harshest conditions the sea can provide.... [more]Onsend this story

Riviera addresses owners' concerns Riviera Boats, In an open letter from the Chief Executive Officer, John Anderson and Receiver and Manager, Deloitte, the queries and fears of owners have been addressed.... [more]Onsend this story

Technological innovation key to Azzura Marine's new site Azzura Marine, Azzura Marine, Australia's premier yacht building company, has announced the launch of its stylish new website. Providing a comprehensive overview of the highly successful marine company, the innovative website showcases the group's diverse capabilities.... [more]Onsend this story

Australian Marinas Guide - Comprehensive guide to local marinas Media Services, With over 300 marinas, as well as a few safe harbours where conventional marinas don't exist, the Australian Marinas Guide is the only marina directory to include every marina in Australia. It's the definitive guide for boat owners who require accurate, up to date information on every Australian marina.... [more]Onsend this story

Korea International Boat Show is BIG KIBS Media, In 2008 the show received over 350,000 visitors, making it instantly one of the world's most highly attended boat shows (compare this to 112,000 for this year's London Boat Show or even 238,000 for Dusseldorf, Europe's biggest boat show). This is hardly surprising, with a local population of over 22 million living within 50 miles of the boat show site hungry for new leisure activities.... [more]Onsend this story

It's landed - the new Verado 350 SCi at SCIBS Mercury Marine, Mercury Outboard's all-new Verado 350 SCi has hit Australian shores and will be on display at this year's Boat Shows, starting with the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (21-24 May).... [more]Onsend this story

E-15 'Not So Fast' Says Boat Owners Association BoatUS, As the 21 May deadline for comment approaches, thee USA's largest recreational boat owners group, BoatUs is joining a chorus of boat, car and engine manufacturers including the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and environmental groups such as the Sierra Club in saying 'Not so fast' to a petition brought by the ethanol lobby to the EPA.... [more]Onsend this story

Riviera Syndication unaffected by Riviera receivership Riviera Syndication, Riviera Syndication has announced that it is not affected by the appointment of Receivers to luxury boat builder Riviera on Friday May 8 2009.... [more]Onsend this story

Oasis of the Seas sets new horizons in cruising Jeni Bone, And now for the good news: Oasis of the Seas, the world's largest mega-ship and due for launch in late 2009, has already captured the cruise market's imagination and set records for the biggest, brashest and boldest afloat.... [more]Onsend this story

Brunswick predicts shrinking industry Media Services, Recreational boat manufacturer Brunswick Corp is 'planning for a permanently smaller boat industry' as its first-quarter sales fell 45% from a year ago.... [more]Onsend this story

Don't throw away your paper charts! - GPS failings to come Blackwattle Studios, A report just out by the Government Accountability Office of the USA has revealed significant issues with the future of the GPS world wide system, currently provided free by the USA. The report is entitled 'Significant Challenges in Sustaining and Upgrading Widely Used Capabilities' and was released last week.... [more]Onsend this story

Need Quality Boat Show Staff? Kim McKee, With the first of the Australian winter boat shows less than seven days away, Watercrew has had an influx of exhibitors seeking casual staff to assist them during the Shows. The current uncertain market coupled with the significant investment companies make to exhibit at a boat show has resulted in exhibitors placing more emphasis then ever before on manning their boat show stands with enthusia... [more]Onsend this story

Industry gathers on the GC pre-SCIBS Jeni Bone, Must have been the perfect Gold Coast Autumn weather, or the very suave Wild Oats Merlot at the Southport Yacht Club marine industry luncheon today, but this Gold Coaster feels compelled to say that, one week prior SCIBS, the Gold Coast is ready, waiting and easily the best boat show venue there is.... [more]Onsend this story

Imprint Media offers 'Good News' for marine industry Media Services, Marine industry consultant Denby Browning has announced the formation of Imprint Media, a media and public relations business specialising on the leisure marine industry.... [more]Onsend this story

Pre-winter mooring check-up with Marine Solutions Sandman PR, As the cooler weather begins to set in, now is the perfect time to ensure your vessel is safely moored to withstand the storms that frequent the southern half of the country each winter. Around 90 per cent of storm surge damage to boats in marinas is caused by breaking lines, which is where Marine Solutions' innovative mooring compensators come to the rescue.... [more]Onsend this story

Volunteers get on board Marine Rescue NSW Penny Robbins, In the true spirit of the volunteer movement, more than 600 people have put up their hand to join the State's new volunteer marine rescue organisation.... [more]Onsend this story

New Australian summer east-coast circuit announced Rob Mundle, A spectacular new Australian east coast offshore yachting circuit involving racing in two states has been announced by the Mayor of the Gold Coast, Ron Clarke MBE, on behalf of the Gold Coast's Southport Yacht Club and Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club.... [more]Onsend this story

Mustang Marine invests multi-millions in new range Mustang Marine, Just in time for SCIBS, Mustang Marine has announced a multi million dollar investment in the development of a range of new products.... [more]Onsend this story

Riviera Receivers claim 'business as usual' Deloitte, From behind the wall of silence at the Coomera, Gold Coast precinct of Riviera, this epistle was sent to marine media this morning. No interviews will be forthcoming, the receivers advised, so management and Deloitte representatives can attend to the job at hand - salvaging a company.... [more]Onsend this story

Navico Broadband radar opens new markets Jeni Bone & Rob Kothe, Hailed as a 'paradigm shift' and the most revolutionary advance in radar since 1940, Navico's BR24 Broadband radar has lived up to the hype and expectations.... [more]Onsend this story

Marine Industry companies, Clubs and Associations have asked can they received their own customised version of our Marine Business News, Powerboat-World & Sail-World news feed. The answer is yes, customised in content, news category, for example dinghies, small keelboats or just monohull racing, or Region of the world and appearance.

Change the frequency of newsletters, from five times a week, three times a week to the weekly summary or even a monthly newsletter. Change from html (graphics & pictures) newsletters to text only newsletter, (best for slow connections, mobile phones and PDA's etc. Add Powerboat-World or Sail-World Racing or Cruising newsletters. Temporarily inactivate your subscription for a period, when you will be on holidays etc. or change to text for the same period. Or even (gasp) unsubscribe.